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Eaton exits game with mild hamstring strain

4/17/14: Adam Eaton makes a leaping catch in center field to rob David Ortiz of a home run

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

ARLINGTON - Adam Eaton exited Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Rangers after the top of the fifth inning with what was diagnosed as a mild left hamstring strain.

Eaton hit a grounder to second off Rangers starter Colby Lewis, but couldn't really get out of the batter's box and stopped about four steps short of first base before walking to first to finish the play. First-base coach Daryl Boston immediately waved to the dugout, as Eaton crouched in pain.

One pitch earlier, Eaton collided with first baseman Prince Fielder on a foul ground ball. But the problem stemmed from Friday night, when Eaton suffered a lower body injury while rounding first on a leadoff single. He tweaked that same area on Saturday.

"Yesterday did not help," Eaton said. "The ankle was kind of bothering me after that. The hamstring was bothering me a little bit after that also. But I knew today was going to be kind of a struggle, but of course I wanted to be like a hockey player and battle through it.

"The first two at-bats I wanted to make sure I took it easy so I wasn't really sprinting, 85 percent or so. The third at-bat, I tried to get on it out of the box and it felt like someone was strumming the bottom of the hamstring. Precautionary to take me out and make sure I get some treatment."

Manager Robin Ventura expects Eaton to be out at least three games. Eaton hopes to be back in the lineup after one.

"I need to make sure that I take care of the body a little better and we'll be just fine," Eaton said. "Make sure we pay a little more attention to it and take care of things and take care of what makes me run, which is my legs."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.